Word Family Work

After three weeks of working with this year's group of firsties it became clear to us that we need to provide some intense practice and review of word families and high frequency words.

Now each day we will have at least one literacy center focusing on the word family of the week, as well as the key high frequency words of the week.  This is followed up with 3-4 days of word family homework activities.   This equates to  a LOT of critical practice and review!

During this first month of school we covered the following word families: "at"; "an"; "it; "ot" and the first 20 high frequency words.  Thirty two activities later I can say that we are seeing some amazing results.

Here is an example of one week's activities

  

 

 

 

You can pick up a copy of this packet with 32 print and go activities (all Common Core Standards aligned) in my TpT store: 

Word Family and High Frequency Word Work: Set 1

Have a great holiday weekend.

P.S.  I will be offering this 32 activity packet for FREE on Labor Day, Sept 1, 2014.  Please, please review it.  I would really appreciate the feedback!

Fall is in the Air: Free Clip Art

Yea... fall is around the corner.  In Arizona this basically means that we have a few days under 100 degrees and our swimming pool water no longer feels hot tub warm. 

This is a cause for celebration!  I have created some simple fall clip art that I'd love to share.

Click here to get your free files!  

Have a great 3 day holiday. 

Elephants Galore!

I've made a set of 24 elephants to use around the classroom as reminder posters.  What can I say, I just thought it would look really cute to see little elephants (with thought bubbles over their heads)  reminding our little one of class rules.

I got started making just a few elephants and got carried away. 

All 24 images are png, transparent, 300 dpi files.  Black line images are included.

Click here to head over to TpT

Feel free to copy and use this image

Feel free to copy and use this image

Feel free to copy and use this image

Feel free to copy the three elephants shown on this post.  They are freebies for everyone. 

If you'd like  a copy of the complete clip art set, please leave a comment along with your email address.  I will be selecting 2 winners at random to receive the 24 graphics set. 

Thanks!

September 7 - Grandparents Day

Grandparents Day is so much fun (especially for us grandparents).  Many classrooms across the nation invite grandparents to join the fun and do some sharing with the students.

Students often make cards, put on plays, and interview willing grandparent about the "old days".  It's a lovely exchange among generations.

Last year I created a fun craft and Grandparents Day card filled with literacy activities.  Much to my surprise, I received one of the cards from my own granddaughter!

Click here to get this item from TpT

The packet includes 5 literacy activities. The craft activity (card cover) can be easily completed by your students with minimal guidance. The writing activities which can be used as the card filler or a mini-book include:

* My grandma is the best because... (primary and secondary lines).

* My grandpa is the best because... (primary and secondary lines).

* My grandparents are the best because... (primary and secondary lines).

* A picture of my grandma (frame for drawing)

* A picture of my grandpa (frame for drawing)

* A picture of my grandparents (frame for drawing)

* Things I do with my grandma (create a list)

* Things I do with my grandpa (create a list)

* Things I do with my grandparents (create a list)

* Grandmas (Can, Have, Need) (primary and secondary lines).

* Grandpas (Can, Have, Need) (primary and secondary lines).

* Grandparents (Can, Have, Need) (primary and secondary lines).

* My grandma... (finish the sentences) Great finish the sentences- darling children responses!

* My grandpa... (finish the sentences) Great finish the sentences- darling children responses!

All patterns and illustrated directions are included. This activity provides a fun and creative way to celebrate Grandparent's Day and practice those writing skills.

Be sure to grab all your goodies tomorrow at the TpT One day Sale.  Everything in my store will be 28%off.  Be sure to use the "Boost" promo code. 

Up, Up, and Away! Hot Air Balloon Resources

Up, Up and Away to a New School Year!  I'm creating a fun art project with the hot air balloon theme for my little firsties.  How cute will this theme be for a parents' night bulletin board!

Click here to head over to TpT for a great price on this clip art. 

We'll be reading a few hot air balloon stories to get us in the mood to" take flight" for this project.

Hot Air: The (Mostly) True Story of the First Hot-Air Balloon Ride (Caldecott Honor Book) This  Caldecott winning book delights young readers with the tale of a duck, sheep, and rooster who formed the flight crew in Montgolfiers 1783 test run of the first hot air balloon.  

Sally's Great Balloon Adventure Sally’s family visits a hot air balloon field.  She is tempted by the smell of fresh chicken coming from one of the balloons. Sally ends up in the balloon basket, and—whoops—the balloon takes flight!

Rainbow Balloon This book (a photo essay) shows children how hot air balloons work and teaches them basic concepts such as up and down, hot and cold.

Reading Rainbow has a lovely video of Hot Air Henry.



  

If you've explored hot air balloons in your classroom, I'd love to hear about it.

Thanks and have a great week. 

Poke-a-Dot Stars: Clip Art Freebie

Just finished making these cute poke-a-dot stars for the classroom.  I would love to share them with anyone who thinks they might be able to use them. 

The file contains 14 poke-a-dot starts that are:

• 300 dpi for a crisp image
• transparent
• png images

Just click on the image below.

Passel of Puppies: Free Clip Art

Just put together this "passel full of puppies" for a project I'm working on.  There are 13 puppies in all.  The files are all transparent, 300 dpi, png format.  

If you'd like a copy of the zip folder with all the puppies included just leave a comment along with your email address and I'll send the files.  I am happy to share! 

Wild About 1st Grade Art Activity Freebie

The August art session with my little "firsties" was a HUGE success.  We created "Wild About 1st Grade" self-portraits.   They turned out so dang cute!  It was a lot of fun to combine some guided art along with "do your own thing" directions. 

The bulletin board is adorable.  We'll be adding their writing prompt responses to "I'm WILD About 1st Grade Because..." as soon as we finish the edit process. 

I created a file with the guided art directions, supply list, and writing prompts.  Feel free to download this activity file and enjoy it with your little ones.  This is a "no fail" activity that make for a super cute parents night bulletin board.

Click on the image to download the file

I've created prompts for kinder- 3rd grade.

Fall Center Activities... Last Sale Day on TpT and a 10-Frame Freebie

Just a reminder about the big TpT sale... it end tonight.  Here are some great fall items marked 28% off.

Johnny Appleseed Craftivity and Writing Prompts

Grandparents Day Card and Writing Prompts 

Fall Themed 10 Frames (18) 

Back to School Transportation Unit 

The "firsties" that I volunteer with are really struggling with "Making 10".  Their teacher asked me if I could put together a quick 10-Frame recording sheet.  They will be practicing with:

• Two-sided chips
• Lima beans sprayed red on one side, left white on the other

Each child will be given 10 items and asked to do lots of "shake, pour, and record".   Here is a copy of the the recording sheet.  It's nothing special, but it's very functional!  Help yourselves if you think you can use it with your little ones.  Just click on the image to download it.   

Be sure to print in landscape mode.